Fibreboard fork lift containers



May 24, 1960 M. F. ADAMS 2,937,799

FIBREBOARD FORK LIFT CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 31, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIN 1 I 1 'LLJJ ll I7 17 Z2 4 i 1 I u *i 1; l": /i

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May 24, 1960 M. F. ADAMS 2,937,799

FIBREBOARD FORK LIFT CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 51, 1955 2 SheetsSheet 2IIIIIJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA United:. awsfarefi fi,

FIBREBOARD FORK LIFT CONTAINERS Marion F. Adams, Indianapolis, Ind.,assignor to Inland Container Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind., acorporation Filed Jan. 31, 1955, Ser. No. 484,911

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-14) This invention relates to afibreboard containeradaptable for shipment of large and somewhat heavy products,

E,- of a character suitably constructed to permit of the convenienthandling and transporting by the usual industrial power lift trucks. I i

'It is common practice in the industry to employ fork lift truckswherein the forks extend into or are engaged under a pallet on whichcontainers or articles are supported for the purpose of lifting,transporting and stacking. It has also been the practice in connectionwith open frame wooden crates to provide a suitable fork lift thereforwherein the forks will extend under the top framework of the crate forlifting it from the top instead of through the medium of a pallet at thebottom.

It has also been proposed in respect to heavy fibreboard cartons orcontainers to provide in the bottom thereof reinforced channels alongthe bottom of the container for lifting it from the bottom with all theweight of the contents carried by reinforced channelsconnected with thebottom of the container, and whereby said channels are further designedto admit and guide the forks free of the contents. In other words, suchfibreboard containers having solid walls are provided with a bottomportion which rather serves as a built-in false bottom pallet structure.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a fibreboard container ofthe simplified slotted box type for packaging heavy articles which maybe fork lifted from the top so that no false bottom or reinforcedchannel arrangement is necessary. By reason of this construction such acontainer is not only of simplified form, but permits entry of the forksabove the contents so as not to interfere therewith, and directly undera reinforced top structure from which the walls and bottom are sus- Inthe drawings there is shown as one example of theinvention, a fibreboardcontainer of the slotted box type for packaging heavy articles includingfibreboard side walls 10 and 11 having a reinforcing top panel 12, and

wall 11 and secured thereto in any suitable manner such as by thestaples 14. Interiorly of the container there,

are provided corner reinforcing posts of fibreboard, as shown at 15, andside wall protective liners 16 which may be spaced inwardly thereof. Thetop panel structure 12 is preferably for-med of a wooden reinforced coreframe 17 over which fibreboard plies 18 and 19 are secured. Said toppanel structure is seated over the ends of the corner posts 15 and theupper edges of the liners 16. The top edges of the side walls 10 and 11are folded over to provide a gripping flange 20 extending over the upperedge portion of the top structure and secured thereto in any suitablemanner, such as by glue or staples.

One or more adjacent side panels 10, 11 are provided along their upperedges and directly under the top structure; with a plurality of spacedfork receiving openings 21, such as to receive therethrough the tines 22of a liftingfork, as shown in Fig. 2. Said openings are cut from theside panels to leave a closure flap 23 hinged thereto.

In the above described structure, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, thelifting fork tines 22 may be readily inserted through the-openings 21pushing the flaps 23 inwardly to engage directly under the reinforcedpanel 12. The container may thus be lifted by the fork for transportingand stacking, sustaining the weight of the contents through thedepending fibreboard side walls 10, 11.

Fig. 4 is illustrative of a similar structure having side walls 110, theupper edges of which are folded over and about a rigid reinforcing frame117. A top panel 112 extends along the reinforcing frame 117, havingdownturned flanges 120 extending about the frame and having a lip 118extending upwardly between the frame and the side wall to lock the framein position about the top pended. By reason thereof, as moreparticularly hereinafter described, there is little departure from thesimple inexpensive slotted box type of container, resulting ineconomical packaging for power handling.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fibreboard container embodying theinvention, and with portions thereof broken away.

' Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 --2 of Fig. 1, showing theposition of a lifting and transporting fork in engaging positiontherewith.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the top of the container with the toppanel partially removed.

Fig. 4 is a section through a corner portion of the j container similarto Fig. 2, showing a modified form of reinforcing structure.

Fig. 5 is the same as Fig. 4, showing a second modified form.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a container showing a further modifiedform.

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 2 showing the odified form ofcontainer illustrated in Fig. 6.

portions of the side walls. A steel strap or wire indicated at 119 istightly secured about the flanges 120 for securely locking them,together with the reinforcing frame 117, to the side walls. One or moreside walls is provided with the tine receiving openings 121, as abovedescribed, whereby the lifting fork may be inserted into the containerimmediately below and in lifting engagement with the reinforcing frame117.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5, the side walls 210 have turnedover flanges 217 interlocking with an upturned flange 218 extending fromthe downturned flange portion 220 of the top panel structure 212. Thetine receiving openings 221 formed in the walls 210 are immediatelybelow the interlocking of the top cover for lifting engagementtherewith. The top structure 212 is further. reinforced by a steel band,or other securing means 219 extending about the downturned flange 220 tosecure it in interlocking engagement with the side walls.

Thus, in the modified form of Fig. 4, the top panel is rendered rigidand reinforced by the frame 117, and in Fig. 5 the top structure isrendered rigid and reinforced by the interlocking flanges 217, 218, andwherein both are held in their rigid reinforced condition by thesurrounding bands, or other securing means 119 and 219.

In the modified form of the invention as shown in Figs; 6, 7 and 8, therigid reinforced top structure is located slightly below thetop of thecontainer, there being illustrated a container having side walls 310 and311 with a top structure indicated generally at 312 which includesoverlying closure flaps 319 hinged to the Patentedy 2411960;

side wall portion 320. The side wall portion 320 comprises in thismodification the equivalent of the reinforced top structure of Fig. 1,and has its lower part cut out from the fork tine openings 321 of theside wall 310. Said cut out portion provides an inwardly disposed,upturned flap 318 which embraces the reinforcing frame structure 319 andis stapled or otherwise secured thereto, as indicated at 316.

In Fig. 8 a very similar arrangement is shown, but wherein What may betermed the top structure 420 terminates in an inwardly disposeddownturned flap 418 which is cut out from the adjacent opening 421 inthe side Wall 410. Said flap 418 embraces and locks in place the rigidreinforcing frame 317 to which it is secured by means indicated at 316.Thus, the time 22 may be inserted through the opening 421 to engagedirectly under the rigid reinforced top structure including the frame317.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the fibreboard container ofthe slotted box type for packaging heavy articles may embody one of theseveral modified arrangements of fibreboard side walls 10, 11, 1'10,210, 310 and 410, and each of which containers is provided with anysuitable bottom structure carried by the lower portions of said sidewalls. In each modification there is provided a rigid reinforced topstructure secured to the upper portions of said side walls, saidreinforced top structure being of the type shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 oras shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. Directly under the reinforced topstructure, as by the wooden frame members 17, 117 and 317 on the onehand, or the folded interlocking fibreboard arrangement, as shown at 217and 218, there are provided tine receiving openings for engagementtherewith by the lifting fork, and wherein the lifting fork willdirectly engage the reinforced portions of said top structure forlifting the entire container and article therein through the tensilestrength of the several fibreboard side walls.

The invention claimed is:

l. A fibreboard packing case of the slotted box type for packaging veryheavy articles of merchandise and movable from one point to another withthe aid of a fork lift truck, said case having single thickness sidewalls and a bottom wall of fibreboard, a relatively rigid top closurestructure generally conforming in size and shape to the cross section ofsaid case and fitted within an end thereof, inwardly bent extensionshinged to the side walls extending over said closure structure means toseforcesexerted by said tines will be distributed through said closurestructure to and throughout the walls of the case.

. 2. A ,fibreboard packing case of the slotted box type for packagingvery heavy articles of merchandise and movable from one point to anotherwith the aid of a fork lift truck; said case having single thicknessside walls and a bottom well formed of fibreboard, a relatively rigidtop closure structure generally conforming in size and shape to thecross section of said case and fitted within an end thereof, inwardlybent extensions hinged to the side walls extending over said closurestructure, means to securesaid extensions against outward movementrelative to said closure structure, a plurality of corner reinforcingposts disposed within said case upon which said closure structure isseated, and a series of spaced openings in at least one of said sideWalls to admit the tines of a lift fork therethrough for liftingengagement with said closure structure, the lower edge of said closurestructure being disposed in substantially the same plane with the upperedges of said openings, whereby the lifting forces exerted by said tineswill be distributed through said closure structure to and throughout theWalls of the case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,647,581 Redemski Nov. 1, 1927 2,253,428 Henderson Aug. 19, 19412,310,408 Ehrenfeld Feb. 9, 1943 2,374,177 Conner Apr. 24, 19452,383,853 Guyer Aug. 28, 1945 2,385,407 Endress Sept. 25, 1945 2,407,111Thompson Sept. 3, 1946 2,586,156 Ferguson Feb. 19, 1952 2,685,398 KingAug. 3, 1954 2,766,923 DEsposito Oct. 16, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 460,803Great Britain Feb. 4, 1937

